The Texas Rangers Baseball Foundation, Major League Baseball, and the City of Arlington broke ground on improvements to a city park Friday. They are renovating Senter Park, south of Downtown and about three miles from Globe Life Field, as the first "All-Star Legacy" project. Globe Life Field will host the 2024 All-Star Game.
"We are able to work off the field to reduce equity gaps and help those who live in the communities where we play our sport," says Major League Baseball Senior Vice President of Social Responsibility April Brown.
The City of Arlington bought 3.2 acres of land for Senter Park for $500 in 1947. The park opened with its current configuration in 1956.
The renovation starting now will install new turf for the two baseball fields. The city will also build dugouts, bullpens and fencing around the park.
"To bring in that iconic red brick element of our stadiums here in Arlington and leave that touch of Rangers and MLB feel to it, we'll be building backstops and dugouts that will feature a three-foot tall red brick structure with a white stone cap," says Katie Markovich, vice president of marketing for Paragon Sports, which is the general contractor leading the project.
The renovation will also include additional seating behind home plate and the addition of shade over bleachers.
Rangers Shortstop Corey Seager and his wife are donating money for batting cages and a warm-up area. Seager says work like this aims to spark kids' interest in baseball and softball.
"It's always about giving back to the kids and trying to inspire people just to come out, be active and play to see if they like it as much as we do," he says. "This city, this community, has supported us tremendously through the years, so to be able to give back a little is really fun."
"The Rangers have always come with the biggest heart in Major League Baseball and have been engaged with the community like no other," says Arlington Mayor Jim Ross. "We're very proud to have the Rangers here and very appreciative for what they do for this community."
Ross says the World Series title in 2023 followed by the All-Star Game this July will build on a relationship that started more than 50 years ago.
"In Arlington, the Texas Rangers were born and raised. They've been here forever, and we said this when they won the World Series that they've been making dreams come true forever and a day," Ross says.
Senter Park will be renamed, "Major League Baseball and Texas Rangers All Star Legacy Park and Corey Seager Batting Cages." Renovations are expected to be finished by July 1.
Globe Life Field will host the 2024 All-Star Game Tuesday, July 16. This is the Rangers' fifth season at Globe Life Field. Arlington has hosted the All-Star Game once before in 1995.
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